The Nation

All things considered, on-highway diesel prices were staying about the same Monday, with the average price only down four tenths of a penny to $3.239 compared with $3.243 on July 9, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported. Three of the EIA’s 10 reporting regions — the Central Atlantic, the Gulf Coast and the Rocky Mountain — stayed the same, and the only area to see a change of more than a cent was the West Coast Less California, which decreased 1.5 cents a gallon to $3456. Six reporting sectors saw a decline, but none as much as a penny. California is teetering just below the $4-a-gallon mark at $3.968, while the Gulf Coast is teetering just above $3 a gallon at $3.004, the same price it was last week. Next week’s prices could see prices even lower since energy companies were falling Monday along with the price of crude oil, bringing U.S. stocks lower after two weeks of gains. The price of crude oil slumped almost 4 percent on reports the U.S. will take a softer stance on countries that import oil from Iran, The Associated Press reported. For the price of diesel by EIA region click here.

In what appears to be an effort to make a substantive change to the CSA safety evaluation program rather than a piecemeal fix, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week said it had withdrawn its previously proposed changes to CSA so it can concentrate on what is reportedly a more sweeping overhaul suggested by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Since CSA’s inception in 2010, trucking stakeholders have claimed CSA is flawed. The NAS in June last year in a Congressionally mandated report said CSA was a sound idea but the system the government used to collect and evaluate data was flawed. FMCSA proposed fixes but now has now withdrawn those proposals, FMCSA said in a brief statement officially dated July 10. Some stakeholders had commented that if changes were made using the same CSA data-collection chassis, as it were, the vehicle would still be broken. One of the key recommendations of the NAS was that FMCSA build a new system of data collection and analysis called the Item Response Theory or IRT, which is said to be more about probabilities than tallying violations. In its background information accompanying its withdrawal announcement made public July 13, FMCSA noted that “the NAS cautioned the agency against making changes to the algorithm based on ad-hoc analysis and instead to rely on the IRT.” FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez told The Trucker News Organization recently that he wants “the regulated community to have confidence in our system of [CSA] evaluation” and that “it starts with data. Are we collecting good data? Are we evaluating it properly and what does it mean? How are we then turning that, along with our state partners, into enforcement?” Asked about making the data available for viewing by the public once again, Martinez said that while he is all for transparency, the agency needs to make sure that the analysis of that data, the methodology used to collect it and the analysis of it, “is fair.” Martinez added that redoing CSA is “a work in progress” but that “I’m hopeful that at some point we would get to a point where we would all agree that the information should be transparent.” The FMCSA proposals being withdrawn include changes to the intervention thresholds used by the agency to decide which carriers are a crash risk; segmenting the hazardous materials BASIC and making it public; making the violation for operating out-of-service show up under the unsafe driving BASIC rather than under the specific violation BASIC; increasing the maximum vehicle miles traveled in its carrier calculations; making the intervention threshold in the vehicle maintenance BASIC the 75th rather than the 80th percentile; raising the controlled substances BASIC to the 90th percentile; and keeping the 65th percentile the intervention threshold for unsafe driving, crash indicator and Hours of Service compliance.    

WASHINGTON — Freight transportation is vital to the U.S. economy and the daily needs of Americans throughout the country and trucking plays a dominate role in moving that freight. To no one’s surprise, thus says the Federal Highway Administration’s first “Highway Freight Conditions and Performance Report” to Congress, which was mandated by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015. The report was released July 6. “Households and businesses depend on the efficient and reliable delivery of freight to both urban and rural areas,” the report said. Federal support for freight increased under the FAST Act, which included provisions to define, establish, and provide funding for a national highway freight program. The FAST Act freight provisions were designed to address significant needs in the transportation system to ensure that projected increases in freight volumes can be handled efficiently across all transportation modes.In 2015, the transportation system handled a record amount of freight — including a daily average of approximately 55 million tons of freight, worth approximately $49.5 billion. The freight transportation industry employed 4.6 million workers and contributed 9.5 percent of the nation’s economic activity as measured by gross domestic product (GDP). Although freight moves on all modes of transportation, the report said trucks are involved in the movement of most goods. The report said that 59.9 percent of the total tonnage of freight was moved by truck and 60.7 percent of freight moved in terms of billions of dollars was moved by trucks. The highway system is the most-used mode of transport for freight by tonnage and value of goods moved. Commodities moved by truck have a higher value per weight, which gives trucking a higher share of freight dollar value.  Trucking accounted for nearly 30.5 percent of total transportation and warehousing sector employment. Truck driving is by far the largest freight transportation occupation, with approximately 2.83 million truck drivers. About 57.5 percent of these professional truck drivers operate heavy trucks and 28.2 percent drive light trucks. The FAST Act also required the FHWA to report on the condition of the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN). In 2012, the NHFN consisted of 51,029 centerline miles, including 46,947 centerline miles of interstate and 4,082 centerline miles of non-interstate roads. Based on 2014 international roughness index (IRI) data from the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS), approximately 77 percent of pavement miles were rated as having good ride quality, 19 percent had fair ride quality, and 4 percent had poor ride quality. Professional truck drivers might take exception to the agency’s claim that 77 percent of pavement miles are in good condition.The National Bridge Inventory (NBI), which is used to identify current bridge ratings for bridges on the NHFN shows there are approximately 57,600 bridges on the NHFN. Around 4.3 percent of those bridges were rated as structurally deficient. Most of these structurally deficient bridges are 25 years and older, and over half are more than 50 years old. These findings have implications for future maintenance and funding needs as well as impacts to operations. The FHWA said travel time, speed and safety are three measures of performance.Slower speeds and unreliable travel times caused by congestion increase fuel cost and affect operations and productivity, which adds expense to the freight transportation system, the report said, noting that in 2014, congestion created stop-and-go conditions on 5,800 miles of the NHFN and caused traffic to travel below posted speed limits on an additional 4,500 miles of the high-volume truck portions of the NHFN. The projected growth in freight and its reliance on trucks will increase congestion and make it more difficult and costly to move freight.As for the forecast, the report said in 1990, 36.4 percent of the freight moved on the NHFN by trucks. That percentage had jumped to 46.5 percent in 2015 and is forecast to reach 54.4 percent by 2040 for an annual growth rate between 2015 and 2040 of 1.6 percent per year. As for the distance freight travels, the report said approximately 50 percent of large freight trucks (trucks with a gross vehicle weight of over 10,000 pounds) operate within 50 miles of their origination and account for about 30 percent of truck vehicle miles traveled (VMT). By contrast, only 10 percent of large trucks operate more than 200 miles away from their origin, but these large trucks account for more than 30 percent of overall truck VMT. Long-distance truck travel also accounts for nearly all freight ton-miles and a large share of truck VMT.As for truck parking, the report noted that truck drivers need safe, secure, and accessible truck parking.With the projected growth in truck traffic, demand for truck parking will continue to outpace supply. In 2014, FHWA worked with States and industry partners on the Jason’s Law Truck Parking Survey Results and Comparative Analysis to assess these needs. The resulting information quantified the commercial motor vehicle parking shortage at facilities along the National Highway System. The survey provided direct insight into parking issues: more than 75 percent of truck drivers surveyed said they regularly experienced problems finding “safe parking locations when rest was needed.”

GREENBELT, Md. — Starting Monday, as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Operation Safe Driver Week law enforcement personnel will be on roadways throughout North America looking for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in unsafe driving behaviors. This weeklong safety initiative aims to call attention to driver behaviors, the main cause of crashes, and combat those behaviors through heightened traffic safety enforcement and education. Examples of unsafe driver behaviors that law enforcement will be looking for throughout Operation Safe Driver Week are speeding, failure to use a seatbelt, distracted driving, failure to obey traffic control devices, improper lane change, etc. Enforcement personnel will identify drivers engaging in those dangerous driving behaviors on our roadways and issue warnings and/or citations.In May 2018, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released its latest Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts report, which contains statistics on crashes involving large trucks and buses in 2016. According to the report, at least one driver-related factor was recorded for 32 percent of CMV drivers in fatal crashes; 55 percent for passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes. Speeding was the most frequent driver-related factor for both CMV and passenger vehicle drivers. For CMV drivers, the second most common driver-related factor was distraction or inattention. Impairment (fatigue, alcohol, illness, etc.) was the second most common driver-related factor for passenger vehicle drivers. “FMCSA’s report states that in 73 percent of fatal crashes involving a truck, the critical pre-crash event was caused by another vehicle, person, animal or object in the truck’s lane or encroaching into it,” said CVSA President Capt. Christopher Turner with the Kansas Highway Patrol. “Consequently, this enforcement initiative focuses not only on CMV drivers but also on passenger vehicle drivers who are operating unsafely around large trucks and buses.” Operation Safe Driver Week aims not only to identify real-time dangerous driving behaviors on our roadways, but also to prevent those behaviors from occurring in the first place through driver education, Turner said, noting that throughout the week, law enforcement and transportation safety officials will also offer educational safety programs to the motor carrier population and the motoring public. CVSA – in partnership with FMCSA, law enforcement and the motor carrier industry – launched the Operation Safe Driver Program in 2007 to reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from unsafe driving behaviors.

HOLLAND, Mich. — Holland, a regional LTL transportation provider, has partnered with the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a professional truck driver apprenticeship program for veterans. The program offers veterans career training in the trucking industry as they integrate back into civilian life. In addition to paid training, eligible veterans can receive their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill funds while completing the apprenticeship, according to Steve Bramble, Holland’s corporate recruiting manager. “We are proud to bring this program to the men and women who served our country,” Bramble said. “It’s truly a privilege for us to offer veterans a career transition that allows them to continue serving the country in a new capacity.” Holland’s Driver Training Program helps veterans develop the skills they need for a full-time career in the trucking industry, Bramble said. Veterans who have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) but still need to meet mileage requirements or earn proper endorsements will work with industry professionals to complete these objectives while utilizing their current skills. Veterans who currently do not have a CDL will enter the Dock-to-Driver Program and grow into the industry through paid CDL training and professional mentorships. Veterans who have the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill can receive up to $24,000 of tax-free benefits in addition to their Holland pay. Funds will be submitted directly to the veteran by the VA. To enroll in the apprenticeship program, veterans only need to complete the necessary VA paperwork during the first day of orientation. Veterans must be Holland employees to join the apprenticeship and receive VA educational benefits. In addition to the partnership with the Department of Labor and the VA, Holland has also received grant funds for $40,000 to support the training program. The funds were approved at the end of 2017 when Holland received the Department of Labor Apprenticeship certification. The grant is from FASTPORT, a veteran employment software company with a mission to connect veterans to career opportunities. FASTPORT works with Holland to provide veterans with meaningful careers and to build a pipeline between the military community and the trucking industry. Apply for the Holland Veterans program at www.careers.hollandregional.com/military or call 844-617-6410.

By DAVID KOENIG, AP Business Writer The U.S. has nosed ahead of Saudi Arabia and is on pace to surpass Russia to become the world’s biggest oil producer for the first time in more than four decades. The latest forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that U.S. output will grow next year to 11.8 million barrels a day. “If the forecast holds, that would make the U.S. the world’s leading producer of crude,” says Linda Capuano, who heads the agency, a part of the Energy Department. Saudi Arabia and Russia could upend that forecast by boosting their own production. In the face of rising global oil prices, members of the OPEC cartel and a few non-members including Russia agreed last month to ease production caps that had contributed to the run-up in prices. President Donald Trump has urged the Saudis to pump more oil to contain rising prices. He tweeted on June 30 that King Salman agreed to boost production “maybe up to 2,000,000 barrels.” The White House later clarified that the king said his country has a reserve of 2 million barrels a day that could be tapped “if and when necessary.” The idea that the U.S. could ever again become the world’s top oil producer once seemed preposterous. “A decade ago the only question was how fast would U.S. production go down,” said Daniel Yergin, author of several books about the oil industry including a history, “The Prize.” The rebound of U.S. output “has made a huge difference. If this had not happened, we would have had a severe shortage of world oil,” he said. The United States led the world in oil production for much of the 20th century, but the Soviet Union surpassed America in 1974, and Saudi Arabia did the same in 1976, according to Energy Department figures. By the end of the 1970s the USSR was producing one-third more oil than the U.S.; by the end of the 1980s, Soviet output was nearly double that of the U.S. The last decade or so has seen a revolution in American energy production, however, led by techniques including hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and horizontal drilling. Those innovations — and the breakup of the Soviet Union — helped the U.S. narrow the gap. Last year, Russia produced more than 10.3 million barrels a day, Saudi Arabia pumped just under 10 million, and the U.S. came in under 9.4 million barrels a day, according to U.S. government figures. The U.S. has been pumping more than 10 million barrels a day on average since February, and probably pumped about 10.9 million barrels a day in June, up from 10.8 million in May, the energy agency said Tuesday in its latest short-term outlook. According to the Energy Department, the U.S. edged ahead of Saudi Arabia in February and stayed there in March; both trailed Russia. Capuano’s agency forecast that U.S. crude output will average 10.8 million barrels a day for all of 2018 and 11.8 million barrels a day in 2019. The current U.S. record for a full year is 9.6 million barrels a day in 1970. The trend of rising U.S. output prompted Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, to predict this spring that the U.S. would leapfrog Russia and become the world’s largest producer by next year — if not sooner. One potential obstacle for U.S. drillers is a bottleneck of pipeline capacity to ship oil from the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico to ports and refineries. “They are growing the production but they can’t get it out of the area fast enough because of pipeline constraints,” said Jim Rittersbusch, a consultant to oil traders. Some analysts believe that Permian production could decline, or at least grow more slowly, in 2019 or 2020 as energy companies move from their best acreage to more marginal areas.

LOS ANGELES  — California greenhouse gas emissions fell below 1990 levels, meeting an early target years ahead of schedule and putting the state well on its way toward reaching long-term goals to fight climate change, officials said July 11. The California Air Resources Board announced pollution levels were down 13 percent since their 2004 peak — as the economy grew 26 percent since that year. The achievement was roughly equal to taking 12 million cars off the road or saving 6 billion gallons (22.7 billion liters) of gasoline a year, the board said. Chairwoman Mary D. Nichols called it “great news for the health of Californians, the state’s environment and its economy.” Greenhouse gas emissions dropped 2.7 percent in 2016 — the latest year available — to about 430 million metric tons, the board said. That’s just below the 431 million metric tons produced in 1990. California law requires that emissions return to 1990 levels by 2020 and reach 40 percent below that marker by 2030. The Air Resources Board has broad authority to achieve those goals in the nation’s most populous state. “California set the toughest emissions targets in the nation, tracked progress and delivered results,” Governor Jerry Brown said Wednesday. The decrease is partly a result of California’s increased use of renewable power, the board said. Solar electricity generation from rooftop arrays and power plants jumped 33 percent in 2016, according to the new data. Imports of hydroelectric power shot up 39 percent that year as rains returned to the Western United States after years of drought, officials said. While many thought the 2020 milestone was reachable, meeting the 2030 target — which the governor called “heroic” — will be more of a challenge. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” said Alex Jackson, senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council’s San Francisco office. The transportation industry, one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, will have to continue its trend of using more efficient vehicles and cleaner fuels, he said. The transportation sector saw a 2 percent increase in emissions in 2016 because of increased fuel consumption, the state report said. But officials said California also saw cars and trucks use a record amount of biofuels — a total of 1.5 billion gallons (5.7 billion liters). California has a head start toward reaching the 2030 target because of its tailpipe emissions standards, which have exceed federal minimums for years, Jackson said. He said the goal is achievable, despite “new headwinds from a hostile federal administration” that has moved to scale back or suspend national climate programs. “The world is watching as California sets the way forward,” Jackson said.

By Don Ake CV Equipment Expert FTR Transportation Intelligence Reprinted With Permission BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Institute for Supply Management’s PMI for Manufacturing (Purchasing Managers Index) jumped to 60.2 in June, up from 58.7 in May and rising for the second straight month.  Considering that anything over 50 represents growth, the 60.2 is a robust reading which means everything must be wonderful in the manufacturing sector, right? Well not so fast, Machine Boy. Literally, not so fast. A closer look at the numbers shows some disturbing trends. A big jump in the Supplier Deliveries sub-index indicates deliveries from manufacturers to customers slowed tremendously in June. The primary reason for late deliveries is a lack of manpower. Manufacturers assumed they would be able to expand capacity when they took the original orders, but because the economic recovery is widespread, all industries have been competing for the same labor pool.  That left many companies short on workers. Even if you have enough workers, there still can be problems if your suppliers are short on staff. If your supply chain consists of 50 vendors, but 10 of these suppliers are delivering late, it’s going to wreak havoc with your production schedule and result in late deliveries. Another reason deliveries are slow is lack of trucking capacity.  Fleets managed capacity very conservatively after the Great Recession and that worked well in a slow growth economic recovery. But now that commerce has accelerated, there are not enough trucks and trailers to handle the amount of growing freight.  Many companies have been forced to bid for trucks in the spot market for the first time in years.  This is resulting in many late deliveries. The conditions causing delivery delays detailed above are severely prominent in the Class 8 equipment market.  Specific numbers are difficult to obtain, but industry sources tell me that more than 30 parts are in short supply at truck OEMs. Most of the shortages are the result of Tier 1, Tier 2 and even Tier 3 suppliers not being able to hire enough workers to make the needed components and parts. Companies are in some cases air-freighting parts in from Asia to keep production lines running. Word on the street is there are over 10,000, and maybe as many as 15,000, semi-completed Class 8 trucks parked, waiting for parts to arrive, so they can be driven off the lots. Component deliveries have been so slow that some of these trucks have sat for over a month. There is no good way to predict when the supply chain will open up and all needed parts and components will be delivered on time. And even when the key components arrive, all these trucks will need to be delivered to dealers and fleets throughout the country. This presents a logistics nightmare since OEMs were having problems finding drivers to deliver the trucks before the supply chain bottleneck struck. So ironically, the driver shortage is causing delivery problems in the trucking industry.  The driver shortage has grown progressively worse since the beginning of 2016 and is reaching a critical point. With the unemployment rate at 3.8 percent and the competition for workers from other industries, it gets more difficult for fleets to hire drivers every day.  A recent article in the Washington Post told the story of an 87-year old man who was offered a trucking driving job, provided he obtained his CDL. However, he turned down the $50,000 a year job because he did not want to spend that much time away from home. Most discussions of the new tariffs involve the impact on prices. However, my sources tell me they will soon negatively affect the supply chain in the short-term.  Aluminum coils from China and steel stock from other countries have been diverted or delayed because of the tariffs. Soon U.S. manufacturers will need these materials to make parts, components and products – some for the truck OEMs.  To a supply chain already performing poorly, the tariffs hitting at this moment just adds to the mess. The lack of parts and components, for all industries, slows down production. The lack of trucking capacity slows down the movement of goods. At some point, this will slow down economic growth.  Normally, you would expect the economic laws of supply and demand to balance things out. And this will happen, in the long run. In the short run, it’s about to get ugly. Don Ake can be reached at [email protected]

Every long-haul trucker knows America’s roads and bridges are in bad need of repair and that congestion is getting worse. But congestion aside, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) — the same organization that last year gave America a D+ for its infrastructure — has recently scored the top 10 states for being the best at maintaining their roads, bridges, rails and waterways. No. 1 was Texas, which according the ASCE, handles more of the country’s cargo than any other state. In fact, Port Houston, the second-biggest port in the nation, surpasses Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, as the world’s largest petrochemical complex. Texas scored 288 out of 400 points with 1.6 percent deficient bridges, an average commute time of 26.5 minutes, a major airport (Dallas-Fort Worth International), and a 20-year-old water system that needs $45.2 billion in improvements. Indiana, which calls itself the Crossroads of America, was graded at No. 2, with the ASCE calling the Indiana Toll Road the state’s “crown jewel” because it’s so well maintained. The toll road has been run by private operators since 2006, allowing Indiana to pay off debts and provide funds for other projects. With trucking and others, tolls remain controversial, but Indiana is considering adding toll roads elsewhere in the state, according to the ASCE report. And while everyone complains about traffic in Atlanta, Georgia ranked No. 3 for its well-maintained roads and its ports, which contribute more than $100 billion to Georgia’s economy and supports more than 400,000 jobs. Georgia also got high marks for Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which based on passenger traffic, is the world’s busiest. The report acknowledged, however, that getting to the state’s ports or the airport can be a challenge because of the traffic. Despite Atlanta’s traffic, statewide the average commute averaged out to 28.5 minutes. Ohio came in at No. 4, helped by its extensive rail network that carries an estimated 280 million tons of freight a year. Also helping the Buckeye State is its central location, which according to Jobs Ohio, is within 600 miles of half the U.S. and Canada. Ohio’s score was 261 out of 400, with 6 percent deficient bridges, an average commute of 23.4 minutes, a major airport (Cleveland-Hopkins International) and another 20-year water system that needs a $13.4 billion upgrade. Capturing the No. 5 position was Tennessee, which got kudos for the Tennessee IMPROVE Act, which is replacing hundreds of millions of dollars in individual and business taxes with user fees to finance an estimated 1,000 road and bridge projects, with 30 of them already under way. That’s on top of already well-maintained roads and bridges, the report stated. Tennessee’s score was 259 out of 400 points with 4.7 of its bridges deficient and an average commute time of 25.1 minutes. Minnesota was No. 6, with the ASCE report noting that the state has had to reexamine its infrastructure approach since the collapse of its Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River during rush hour on August 2, 2007. Thirteen people were killed and 145 were injured. The state passed a $1.5 billion transportation bill this year that included $400 million for its Corridors of Commerce program started in 2013. Today only 5.3 percent of Minnesota’s bridges are considered deficient. Kentucky was ranked No. 7 for its “critical ports along the Ohio River” and the eighth-largest cargo airport in the world (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International). Finally, the Bluegrass State was lauded for its roads, which were said to be some of the best-maintained in the country with an average commute of 23.3 minutes. Confusingly, Florida and Nevada tied for No. 8, and there was no position No. 9. Florida was in the top 10 because of its role as a “major gateway to Latin and South America” and Port Tampa Bay, which handles 37 million tons of cargo per year and nearly 1 million cruise passengers. There are 16 international airports in Florida and the report said although some commutes are “painful,” roads and bridges are consistently well maintained. Deficient bridges in Florida were only at 2.1 percent and the average commute to work was 27.4 minutes.

RIVERSIDE, Mo. — Rolling Strong, the provider of driver wellness programs for transportation companies and their drivers, as well as owner-operators, has formed a partnership with Enrollment First to offer affordable insurance benefits to owner-operators and to fleets with independent contractors. The partnership takes a breakthrough proactive approach to providing healthcare benefits for truck drivers by automatically enrolling Enrollment First customers in the Rolling Strong health and wellness app, according to Stephen Kane, president of Rolling Strong. “Enrollment First is the first major benefits provider that has embraced our health and wellness program and integrated with us to service owner operators and fleets with independent contractors,” Kane said. “This is a breakthrough offering for the industry. Having affordable insurance benefits is important to the wellness of truck drivers and their families. With Enrollment First, we can offer a proactive approach to medical benefits that gives drivers a better chance to adopt a healthy lifestyle.” Through its partnership with Rolling Strong, Enrollment First will provide choices in insurance products for drivers and fleets. Its health benefits coverage lines offer wellness and preventive visits without a co-pay or deductible. Additional plans in the voluntary portfolio include dental and vision coverage, life insurance, and other options. Under the agreement, Rolling Strong will promote Enrollment First to its platform users and current and new Enrollment First customers will have automatic access to the Rolling Strong health and wellness platform. “Rolling Strong is always striving to focus on the health of truck drivers so this partnership is a natural fit,” said Hazen Mirts, president and chief executive officer of Enrollment First. “Our insurance coverage benefits are in line with their mission of promoting a healthier lifestyle for drivers. With Rolling Strong, our customers have better access to wellness engagement tools while they are on the road. This is a partnership that benefits everyone because it has the same focus at its core.” The Rolling Strong health and wellness mobile app for IOS and Android devices offers exercise programs and nutrition and personal health guidance, including the ability to connect with a wellness coach. Drivers can also earn points and rewards for logging sleep, exercising, and meeting daily calorie goals. Enrollment First, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a health solutions company with a large network of medical benefits providers that specializes in a turnkey solution for motor carriers, and provides a complete solution to enrollment and marketing for drivers and their individual choices of insurance products. The company employs a dedicated team that manages the day-to-day insurance questions and needs of motor carriers, and drivers on the road. To learn more about Enrollment First, visit www.enroll1st.com.

ARLINGTON, Virginia — The American Trucking Associations, along with three motor carriers representing the industry, asked a federal court to rule Rhode Island’s RhodeWorks truck-only toll scheme unconstitutional, arguing it discriminates against interstate trucking companies and impedes the flow of interstate commerce. “Since RhodeWorks was first proposed, the trucking industry has been strong and united in opposition to this extortionate plan. We’ve warned politicians in Rhode Island that these truck-only tolls were unconstitutional and should be rolled back,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “It is unfortunate that Gov. (Gina) Raimondo and her administration did not heed those warnings, but now we will see them in court.” In its suit, ATA, along with Cumberland Farms Inc., M&M Transport Services Inc. and New England Motor Freight, argues that the RhodeWorks plan violates the Constitution’s Commerce Clause by discriminating against out-of-state trucking companies, and by designing the tolls in a way that does not fairly approximate motorists’ use of the roads. “This toll regime was designed to, and does in fact, impose discriminatory and disproportionate burdens on out-of-state operators and on truckers who are operating in interstate commerce. By design, the tolls fall exclusively on the types of trucks that are most likely to be engaged in the interstate transport of cargo, while exempting automobiles and the smaller vehicles that are relatively more likely to be engaged in intrastate travel,” the complaint said. “The toll program also limits the tolls collected from trucks that make multiple trips within Rhode Island in a single day, a feature that was expressly intended to, and does in fact, provide disproportionate benefits to Rhode Island operators and those engaged in intrastate commerce.” “From the outset of this debate, Rhode Island’s trucking industry and business community stepped forward as viable partners for long-overdue infrastructure investment in our state,” said Chris Maxwell, president of the Rhode Island Trucking Association. “Instead of considering our perspective, Rhode Island’s legislators, led by Gov. Raimondo and Speaker (Nicholas) Mattiello, marginalized us, dismissed us and chose the unfortunate path of designing, building and executing an unlawful and inequitable scheme of truck-only tolling. The result is this lawsuit.” To read ATA’s full complaint, click here.        

WALCOTT, Iowa — The 39th Annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree kicks off Thursday at Iowa 80 Truckstop. Event officials for the Jamboree, held at the “World’s Largest Truckstop,” will feature a Super Truck Beauty Contest, Antique Truck Display; Iowa pork chop cookout; over 150 exhibits, Trucker Olympics; carnival games; two fireworks displays, a 100th birthday party for Iowa 80 Trucking Museum’s 1918 Independent (built in Davenport, Iowa) plenty of live concerts and “lots of fun for the whole family.” “We are proud to celebrate America’s Truckers for the important job they do in keeping America rolling,” said Heather DeBaillie, Iowa 80 marketing manager. Thursday, attendees can attend a performance by Logan Mize, who broke onto the country scene with his single “El Camino.” “We are thrilled to be able to have Logan Mize perform this year. He’ll be performing some of the songs off his new album ‘Come Back Road,’” DeBaillie said, adding that local favorite Dani Lynn Howe and Band will open for Logan Mize at 5 p.m. Friday will feature southern rock sounds of the Grammy and CMA winning group The Kentucky Headhunters, best known for their hits “O Lonesome Me,” “Walk Softly on this Heart of Mine,” “Dumas Walker” among others. “The Kentucky Headhunters’ energy doesn’t stop. It will be a fun night for sure,” DeBaillie said. North of 40 will open at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, attendees can hear the musical talents of country up and comer Eric Chesser, who will perform on the main stage from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Admission and parking to the event and all concerts is free.  Shuttles will be provided from the parking area to the event grounds. The birthday party for the 1918 Independent brand truck will be Friday at 2:30 p.m. and is open to the public. “The Independent Motor Truck Company built trucks for less than a decade in Davenport, Iowa”, said Dave Meier, museum curator. “This particular truck is one of few surviving examples and was found on a ranch in South Dakota. The truck was purchased from Lloyd and Margaret Van Horn of Mason City, Iowa.” Independent Motor Truck Company was one of 15 truck manufacturers in Iowa. They built trucks from 1917- 1921 and offered two different models, a one ton and two ton. The Iowa 80 Truckstop is located at I-80 Exit 284 in Walcott. For the most up to date information can be found at www.truckersjamboree.com.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pilot Flying J Tuesday revealed the return of its annual Road Warrior contest that honors professional truck drivers in the United States who go the extra mile to ensure that products and goods are delivered safely, securely and on time to keep the country moving efficiently. From July 10 through July 23, the Road Warrior program will show appreciation for “heroes on the road” by encouraging online story submissions, spotlighting professional drivers’ perseverance and passion for the trucking industry for a chance to win big cash prizes, according to Ken Parent, president of Pilot Flying J. Through hard work and dedication, more than 3.5 million professional drivers deliver goods each day to our smallest towns and biggest cities, making sure all is safe along the way, he said. “We are proud to celebrate and honor professional truck drivers for their tireless work and commitment to provide our country with the goods that make our ways of life possible,” Parent said. “This is the fifth year of our program and every year we are more and more inspired by the exceptional stories shared. This year, we are excited to recognize 12 finalists for their strong contributions to the professional driver community and thank them for a job well done.” Pilot Flying J will invite its social media community to vote for the top three winners from the 12 selected finalists. The 2018 grand prize Road Warrior winner will receive $10,000, second place will receive $5,000, third place will receive $2,500 and the remaining nine finalists will each receive $1,000. Additionally, nominators of the grand, second and third place winners will also receive a $500 prize. Entering the Road Warrior contest is fast, free and easy, Parent said. Visit www.RoadWarrior.PilotFlyingJ.com to tell the story of the professional driver in your life who inspires you and upload a photo. Anyone can nominate a Road Warrior, including coworkers, friends and family members, or professional drivers can even nominate themselves. Mike Sheeds, a professional truck driver for more than 27 years with over 3.5 million safe driving miles, was named the 2017 Road Warrior winner. Sheeds was recognized by Pilot Flying J for his achievements on the road, teaching the importance of safety to over 300 students throughout his career, and, above all else, his dedication to his family. While driving can be a demanding career, Sheeds always prioritizes spending time with family and advocating for his children. “I am so humbled to be chosen as a Road Warrior winner,” Sheeds said. “Driving has been part of my life for almost 30 years, and teaching aspiring professional drivers to prioritize safety above all else is what has remained most important to me throughout my career. Experience will never trump physics, and I encourage all drivers to remember this on the road.” To learn more about the Road Warrior program, view complete contest rules, read about previous winners and follow inspirational submissions, visit RoadWarrior.PilotFlyingJ.com. To join the Road Warrior conversation, follow #RoadWarrior.  

MIAMI — UrgentCareTravel (UCT), the medical cinic network at Pilot Flying J, has opened three new medical clinics focused on providing fleets and professional drivers medical services. With the addition of new medical clinics in Baytown, Texas, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and West Memphis, Arkansas, all at Flying J Travel Centers, UrgentCareTravel now has nine medical clinics in its network. UrgentCareTravel plans to add seven more clinics in 2018, with a growing clinic network over the next few years. “Pilot Flying J is committed to making a better day for professional drivers,” said Ken Parent, president of Pilot Flying J. “This partnership with UrgentCareTravel allows us to provide on-site care as an additional service aimed at making life on the road better for drivers.” Parent said UrgentCareTravel clinics address today’s critical challenges in the trucking industry: Professional drivers do not have convenient access to medical clinics where they can park their truck. The trucking industry is estimated lose hundreds of millions of dollars in driver productivity per year as drivers spend an additional four to six hours off the road each time they need a medical service. Professional drivers have health challenges. According to UrgentCareTravel’s analysis of over 15,000 Department of Transportation physicals performed at its clinics, 50 percent of drivers have one or more serious medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity and high cholesterol, which in turn, limit their commercial drivers license to one year or less. Most professional drivers today have no health insurance or health insurance with high deductibles and premiums. Since the required ongoing care of their pre-existing conditions are paid out of pocket, drivers visit clinics less often, their conditions worsen and they eventually leave the workforce. Driver health is a major contributor to the high turnover rate in the industry. Based on UrgentCareTravel discussions with fleets, with industry turnover rates upwards of 100 percent, company profitability decreases as the average recruiting cost is $5,000 per driver. “Our network of medical clinics at Pilot Flying J fills a critical need in the trucking industry – affordable and convenient healthcare,” said Siva Suresh, CEO of UrgentCareTravel. “We value our relationship with Pilot Flying J which enables us to address the key healthcare needs of professional drivers to help them stay healthy and on the road.” With a focus on convenience and affordability, UrgentCareTravel is the only medical clinic network focused on truck driver health, Parent said. For additional information about UrgentCareTravel’s health network, locations and services, please visit the website at www.UrgentCareTravel.com. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Flying J has more than 750 retail locations in 44 states, Roadside assistance available at over 145 locations nationwide and growing as part of its Truck Care program, 44 Goodyear Commercial Tire and Service Centers, and 34 Boss Shops. For more information, visit www.pilotflyingj.com.

On-highway diesel prices rose in the past week, albeit by an almost imperceptible $0.007, leaving the national average at $3.243 as of July 9, according the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Most regions of the country experienced a small price increase, the largest being a bump of $0.015 in the Central Atlantic region and $0.012 in the Rocky Mountain region. The overall East Coast also recorded an increase of $0.012, with New England reporting a $0.003 drop in prices. The overall West Coast also experienced a price drop, of $0.004, despite a full penny increase in California. Most other regions of the country experienced gains of less than one-half of one cent over the past week. California continues to show the largest year-to-year increase in diesel prices, $1.103, pushing the West Coast year-to year increase to $0.978. Price increases over the past year on the West Coast and Rocky Mountain regions have been significant enough that even though the current average price of diesel across the U.S. is $0.762 higher than it was a year ago, the national year-to-year increase is higher than it is in any individual region other than the West Cost and Rocky Mountain regions. Click here for a complete list of average prices by region for the past three weeks.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has put a New Mexico-licensed CMV driver out-of-service and sidelined his truck after it was found he had been driving continuously for at least 38 of the 45 hours prior to crashing head-on with another tractor-trailer June 13. Investigators also found out that the driver, Evaristo S. Mora, had either disabled or deactivated the truck’s ELD on prior trips. FMCSA declared Mora to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has ordered him not to operate any CMV in interstate commerce.  Mora was served the federal order on July 3. On June 13 at 3:55 p.m., Mora was driving in an active work zone along U.S. 54 in Pratt County, Kansas, when his vehicle veered into the oncoming traffic lane, colliding head-on with another tractor-trailer. The driver of the other vehicle was killed, as was a passenger in Mora’s truck cab. Following the crash, the state of Kansas charged Mora with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.  He was also cited for following too close and for operating a commercial motor vehicle after being declared OOS for violations of Hours of Service regulations. Earlier on June 13, at about 10 a.m., following a roadside safety inspection Mora was placed OOS for 10 hours for failing to have any records-of-duty-status. His CMV also was placed OOS for numerous safety deficiencies, including inoperative/defective brakes and dangerously worn tires. Mora had repairs done on the tractor, but not on the trailer. Using global positioning system (GPS) to reconstruct Mora’s trip, which began June 11, in El Paso, Texas, FMCSA investigators estimated Mora had been driving continuously for at least 38 of the 45 hours prior to the crash. FMCSA’s OOS order states that Mora’s continued operation of any commercial motor vehicle “… substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death if not discontinued immediately.” Failure to comply with the provisions of a federal imminent hazard OOS order may result in action by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for equitable relief and punitive damages.  Civil penalties of up to $1,811 may be assessed for each violation of operating a commercial motor vehicle in violation of the order.  Knowing and/or willful violation of the order may also result in criminal penalties. Mora also may be subject to a civil penalty enforcement proceeding brought by FMCSA for his violation of the agency’s safety regulations.

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. —  The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association today expressed disappointment that its exemption request to the ELD mandate has been denied. The request was submitted eight months ago to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “We are puzzled and disappointed at the response from the agency. For months, the FMCSA has been granting exemptions to other organizations, some not even actually in trucking, but relying on trucks for their businesses,” said Todd Spencer (shown above), executive vice president of OOIDA. OOIDA said in its request that small-business truckers that have already proven their ability to operate safely “should not be subject to purchasing costly, unproven and uncertified devices.” OOIDA had requested a five-year exemption for motor carriers classified as small businesses according to the Small Business Administration and with a proven safety history with no attributable at-fault crashes, and who do not have a Carrier Safety Rating of “Unsatisfactory.” “Congress is taking notice that the mandate was not ready for prime time,” said Spencer. There are numerous legislative proposals that would provide relief from the mandate and we’re hoping Congress moves forward with them.” Among the numerous concerns cited in the request, the issue of self-certification of vendors is one of the biggest issues brought up by OOIDA. FMCSA has stated that they do not know if the self-certified ELD’s listed on their website fulfill regulatory requirements in the mandate, according to OOIDA. “Most small-business motor carriers can ill afford to make these purchases only to learn later that the ELD is non-compliant.  Yet they are required to do so or risk violation,” said Spencer. A five-year exemption would provide necessary time for ELD manufacturers to be fully vetted by the agency, which would alleviate small-business motor carriers from learning that they purchased a device that could damage their vehicles electronic control module or be hacked, stated the group in a news release. OOIDA is part of a diverse, outspoken coalition of industry representatives that has come out against the mandate. The ELD mandate is estimated to cost impacted stakeholders more than $2 billion annually, making it one of the most expensive federal transportation rulemakings over the last decade, says OOIDA. “This is a massive unfunded mandate that provides no safety, economic, or productivity benefits for most ensnared by the mandate.” The FMCSA’s mandate requires that truck drivers use ELDs to track their driving and non-driving activities even though such devices can only track movement and location of a vehicle. OOIDA contends that requiring electronic monitoring devices on commercial vehicles does not advance safety since they are no more reliable than paper logbooks for recording compliance with Hours of Service regulations. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association represents the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The association currently has more than 160,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the Greater Kansas City, Missouri, area.

OMAHA, Neb. – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao, Tuesday joined Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer and Congressman Don Bacon to announce that the Department of Transportation will launch a pilot program to permit 18-20 year olds who possess the U.S. Military equivalent of a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate large trucks in interstate commerce. “This program will allow our Veterans and Reservists, to translate their extensive training into good-paying jobs operating commercial vehicles safely across the country, while also addressing the nationwide driver shortage,” said Secretary Chao. As directed by Section 5404 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the pilot program will grant a limited number of individuals between the ages of 18 and 20 to operate large trucks in interstate commerce – provided they possess the Military equivalent of a CDL and are sponsored by a participating trucking company. “As our nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, Secretary Chao and I were excited to highlight a program I helped champion to provide truck driver jobs to young veterans,” said Senator Fischer. “This innovative program offers a way for our younger Veterans and Reservists to transition to the civilian workforce. I personally thank Secretary Chao and officials with the DOT who continue to find ways to utilize the training and talent of the men and women who served in uniform for our country,” said Congressman Bacon. During the pilot program, which is slated to run for three years, the safety records of these drivers will be compared to the records of a control group of drivers. Information on the pilot program is scheduled to be released in the Federal Register on July 5, 2018. An advance copy is available on FMCSA’s website at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/under-21-pilot-program-frn. Before the pilot program can officially commence, FMCSA is required by Federal statute to allow a public comment period, followed by the Agency’s published responses in the Federal Register. For complete information on USDOT’s Veteran transitions programs into the civilian careers, visit https://www.transportation.gov/veteranstransportationcareers.

July 1 marked the change in fuel tax collection in nine states. Here’s that information, according to data compiled by Keith Goble, state legislative editor of Land Line, a publication of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. SOUTH CAROLINA South Carolina is increasing the state’s 18.75-cent diesel and gas rates by 2 cents. The change to 20.75 cents follows a 2017 state law to impose increases of 2 cents annually through 2022. At that time, the tax rate will top out at 28.75 cents. The state Department of Transportation expects to collect about $230 million in the upcoming year. When fully implemented, the tax is estimated to raise more than $600 million annually. TENNESSEE In Tennessee, the state’s 25.4-cent gas rate and 22.4-cent diesel rate are being raised for the second time in as many years. The gas tax is up 1 cent from a year ago to 26.4 cents per gallon and the diesel tax is up three cents to 25.4 cents. The tax increases are part of a three-year annual tax increase approved by state lawmakers one year ago. When fully in effect next July, the gas tax will reach 27.4 cents and the diesel rate will be 28.4 cents. The tax increases are expected to raise an additional $250 million per year. For information on the other seven states, click here to visit the Land Line website.

South Carolina’s gasoline tax up 2 cents per gallon COLUMBIA, S.C.  — Gasoline prices are up in South Carolina and it has nothing to do with Mideast oil prices, or American production of hurricane threats. South Carolina gas tax increased 2 cents per gallon Sunday, year two of six planned years of increases to provide more funding for roads and bridges. South Carolina’s gas tax is now 20.75 cents per gallon, one of the lowest in the country. Georgia’s tax is 31.6 cents per gallon. North Carolina’s is 34.3 cents. Last July’s initial 2-cent hike was South Carolina’s first gas tax increase in 30 years. With Sunday’s increase, AAA says South Carolina has the second lowest gas prices in the country, just behind Alabama. South Carolina Transportation Secretary Christy Hall says the state has a record level of roadwork underway. Man leaves accident scene, is hit by passing truck on I-95 CLAYMONT, Del. — Police say a man who walked away from a traffic accident and then stumbled onto Interstate 95 was struck and killed. State Police say 29-year-old Brian L. Evans was involved in a collision Sunday afternoon in a neighborhood bordering I-95 in Claymont, Delaware. Investigators say Evans walked away from the scene, crossed over a concrete barrier on an overpass, then jumped down onto the I-95 northbound shoulder. According to witness accounts, Evans then stumbled onto the interstate and was struck by a pickup truck driven by a Florida woman. He later died of his injuries. Michigan debuts new infrastructure commission LANSING, Mich. — A new Michigan statewide commission is crafting a decades-long plan to revamp transportation, drinking water and other infrastructure concerns in Michigan. Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill on Monday creating a 27-member commission to provide recommendations on those issues. The outgoing Republican governor introduced the idea in 2016, a year after alarms were raised regarding lead contamination in Flint’s water supply. The state is still working to replace pipes in the community. The commission will be split into a water council and a transportation council. It will prioritize public health and environmental issues. Infrastructure to be managed by the new agency includes water, transportation, roads and communication networks. The commission is expected to unveil a 30-year investment plan to improve those systems. I-95 study tests taxing cars per miles-driven, not gas used DOVER, Del. — What if motorists paid taxes based on the miles they drive in each state, instead of the gasoline they burn? The concept is being tested with GPS devices recording distance and location up and down the Interstate 95 corridor. The News Journal reports that more than 100 Delaware state employees are trying it out. Commercial vehicles already pay mileage-based user fees, and something has to change to pay for road construction and maintenance costs as electric vehicles and better-mileage cars replace gas-guzzlers. But the idea of tracking private vehicles raises privacy concerns. I-95 Corridor Coalition director Patricia Hendren says user data would be erased after each month’s invoice, and aggregated data would be seen only by state transportation departments from Maine to Florida. Project to hamper Nebraska Highway 15 traffic near Milford MILFORD, Neb. — Authorities say pavement work will delay traffic on Nebraska Highway 15 near Milford in southeast Nebraska. The chip seal project is scheduled to begin Friday morning and take only a day. Chip seal is an application of an asphalt binder to a roadway, followed by an aggregate. The Nebraska Transportation Department says the work will run for 3 miles (5 kilometers) on a stretch west of Milford. One-lane traffic will be controlled with flaggers and a pilot car. Month-long I-65 closures to snarl travel around Indianapolis INDIANAPOLIS — Travel into downtown Indianapolis will become difficult for many drivers over the next month as two sections of Interstate 65 close for repair work on seven bridges. The Indiana Department of Transportation will shut down the southbound I-65 bridge at the I-465 interchange on city’s northwest side, along closing all lanes in both directions of a 2-mile section between 21st Street and Meridian Street near the downtown area. Both closures began early Sunday, after which detours using I-465 and I-70 are recommended. The projects are set for completion by August. 5, with contractors eligible for up to $1.25 million in bonuses for finishing early. Highway agency spokesman Lamar Holliday says keeping the sections partially open to traffic would make the project take much longer to complete. Rhode Island reconfigures Interstate 95 lanes to fix bridge PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island is reconfiguring the lanes on Interstate 95 in Providence to replace a bridge. The state Department of Transportation says the new traffic pattern begins Saturday on the northbound side at Exit 19 and Sunday on the southbound side after Exit 19. Barriers will split the lanes so there are two lanes on the left and one lane on the right. Large trucks must use the right. It’ll stay that way for about three months. The interstate is the main highway through Rhode Island. The DOT says traffic delays are likely and drivers should seek alternate routes. The state is replacing the structurally-deficient Blackstone Street Bridge. Exits and on-ramps will remain open. The DOT says it may close lanes in both directions on some nights.